Underground conduit system



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. 0. BURK,

UNDERGROUND GONDUIT SYSTEM.

Patented Oct. 22, 1895.

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(No mdel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. C. BURK.

UNDERGROUND GDNDUIT SYSTEM.

No. 548,514.- Patented. 001;. 22, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

HIR AM G. BURK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

UNDERGROUND CONDUIT SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,514, dated October22, 1895. Application filed February 28, 1893. Serial No. 464,124. onmodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HIRAM C. BURK, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Cleveland, county of Guyahoga, State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Underground Conduit Systems, ofwhich I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in underground conduit systems forelectric railways; and its objects are to provide means for electricallyconnecting the trolley depending from the car with the line-wire at thetime of passing, while otherwise withdrawing the line-wire from possiblecontact with moisture or exposure to outside influences.

My invention consists in the insulated linewire and dependingtrolley-wheel, with the intervening contact and protecting mechanism, ashereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings,and morespecifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a transverse sectional View ofconduit and line-wire. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through theslot. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of insulating-plate and line-wire.Fig. 4 is a similar view of lower insulating-plate and intermediatecontact mechanism. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of contact-strip fortrolley and connections. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sec tion ofinsulating-plate and contact mechanism. Fig. 7 is a section on line a a,Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is an enlarged portion of Fig. 7. Figs. 9 and 10 aredetails.

In the figures, A is the live wire inclosed between insulating-plates Band C, of material impervious to moisture, I) being a similar plate,forming with the plates B and 0 one wall of the conduit or a portionthereof.

E is a strip or combination of strips hinged at E, by means of arms e,to supports F upon the side wall and is located longitudinally under theslot-opening, where it can readily be depressed byrthe trolley-wheel Gin its passage. This strip is normally supported upon theupwardly-turned arms H of hellcrank levers H, provided with thehorizontal pivots h and longer arms H The levers H are pivotedtransversely of the side blocks D in such a manner that the depressionof the outer arms by the strip E and passing trolley-wheel will raisethe inner and longer arms until their extremities come into contact withthe live wire directly over them, and the bell crank levers beingmetallic, an electric connection is made at once between theline-circuit and trolley-wheel.

To prevent jumping or arcing connection of the current between the livewire and the levers intervening between the wire and strip E, insulatingdrop-blocksI are pivoted at one side of the lever-arms H so that theymay cover the levers when down; but when the levers are raised to makeconnection with the live wire the pivoted blocks slide off from theupper or contact surface of the lovers, so that the metallic surface ofwire and lever is presented for contact, as shown distinctly in dottedlines in Fig. 8.

The advantages of this device are obvious in the extreme protectionafiorded the line or live wire from all contact or influences ofmoisture and in its en tire disconnection from any portion of theintervening mechanism until the trolley-wheel is introduced at theproper level to connect the parts.

I do not claim the exact shape or arrangement of the parts shown in thedrawings, nor limit myself to the size or exact location of theinsulating-blocks in the Wall of the conduit.

I believe myself to be the first to employ an interposedautomatically-operated insulation block or plate in an undergroundconduit sys tem between the line-wire and trolley-operated contactmechanism.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In an underground trolley system the combination of a line wireinclosed in insulating material in the conduit wall, a strip or seriesof strips'hinged to said wall but insulated therefrom and located underthe conduit slot, bell crank levers, pivoted in said insulating materialand provided with long arms located under the line Wire and short armsadapted to support said strip or strips with insulating blocks I betweensaid line wire and longer arms, substantially as described.

2. In an underground conduit system the combination of a line wire A,inclosed between insulating blocks, B, O, insulating block D, strip orstrips E, pivoted to the side of the conduit upon arms 6 and insulatedtherefrom, levers H provided with arms H and H and pivoted at it betweensaid insulating blocks, and a wheel adapted to pass through the conduitslot, and depress the said strip E, substantially as described.

3. In an underground conduit the combination of a line wire, a contactstrip engaged by the trolley passing in the conduit, contact mechanism,between said strip and wire, with a block of insulating materialnormally inter-

